w could _he_ expect to restrain his colleague, who was
entitled, by his office, to full equality with him. But,
notwithstanding the difficulties which he foresaw, he was going to do
his duty, and abide by the result; and if the result should be
unfavorable, he should seek for death in the conflict, for death by
Carthaginian spears was a far lighter evil, in his view, than the
displeasure and censures of his countrymen.

The consuls departed from Rome to join the army, AEmilius attended by a
moderate number of men of rank and station, and Varro by a much larger
train, though it was formed of people of the lower classes of society.
The army was organized, and the arrangements of the encampments
perfected. One ceremony was that of administering an oath to the
soldiers, as was usual in the Roman armies at the commencement of a
campaign. They were made to swear that they would not desert the army,
that they would never abandon the post at which they were stationed in
fear or in flight, nor leave the ranks except for the purpose of
taking up or recovering a weapon, striking an enemy, or protecting a
friend. These and other arrangements being completed, the army was
ready for the field. The consuls made a different arrangement in
respect to the division of their power from that adopted by Fabius and
Minucius. It was agreed between them that they would exercise their
common authority alternately, each for a day.

In the mean time, Hannibal began to find himself reduced to great
difficulty in obtaining provisions for his men. The policy of Fabius
had been so far successful as to place him in a very embarrassing
situation, and one growing more and more embarrassing every day. He
could obtain no food except what he got by plunder, and there was now
very little opportunity for that, as the inhabitants of the country
had carried off all the grain and deposited it in strongly-fortified
towns; and though Hannibal had great confidence in his power to cope
with the Roman army in a regular battle on an open field, he had not
strength sufficient to reduce citadels or attack fortified camps. His
stock of provisions had become, therefore, more and more nearly
exhausted, until now he had a supply for only ten days, and he saw no
possible mode of increasing it.

His great object was, therefore, to bring on a battle. Varro was ready
and willing to give him battle, but AEmilius, or, to call him by his
name in full, Paulus AEmilius, which is